ROCK ISLAND, Illinois -- Today, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam R. Telle announced a major initiative, “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,” for the Army’s Civil Works program.
“Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” will provide greater focus on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) core Civil Works missions, while minimizing non-core programs, direct funding to priority water resources projects that will provide the greatest benefits to the nation, shorten permitting timelines, and reduce or eliminate extraneous regulations and paperwork that slow USACE’s delivery of Civil Works projects and programs.
“President Trump has empowered his administration to work with lightspeed efficiency to make our government deliver more for all Americans. The Army Civil Works’ ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ initiative will enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver critical projects and programs for the nation more efficiently, sooner, and at less cost than the current ways of doing business,” said Telle. “This will eliminate bureaucratic delays and provide fast, clear decisions needed to save lives and empower our economy.”
“Continuous Army transformation is about rapidly delivering war winning capabilities to the Army today, not years in the future. But that’s not all; we’re also transforming at home, too,” said Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll. “I’m incredibly proud of the ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ (BINP) transformation initiative the Army Civil Works and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teams recently unveiled. BINP will build and strengthen American infrastructure across our nation, increasing resiliency and providing tangible, long-lasting value for the American people.”
“Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” will enable USACE district commanders around the nation to execute the Civil Works projects and programs that benefit the nation. USACE commanders will be empowered to take informed risks in advancing critical water resources projects and programs to completion faster and at less cost. The policy changes will also bring greater transparency and accountability for the program to the American public, project partners and sponsors, industry, and the elected leaders who make the annual funding decisions for the Civil Works program.
The plan consists of 27 initiatives grouped under five categories:
- Maximizing the Ability to Deliver National Infrastructure
- Cutting Red Tape
- Focus on Efficiency
- Transparency & Accountability
- Prioritization
The initiatives do not affect USACE execution of its emergency response support to natural and manmade disasters.
"The U.S. Army’s Civil Works program has been an invaluable cornerstone for more than 200 years. ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ will return USACE to a focus on its core missions and ensure the enterprise continues to be the most trusted national resource delivering water resources solutions,” added Telle. “This is only possible with President Trump’s leadership that has enabled our team to maximize our ability to deliver national infrastructure and cut red tape for the American people.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, has served the Upper Mississippi River basin for more than 160 years, delivering a multitude of water resource solutions that benefit the American people. The Rock Island District will carry out the pillars of this initiative while continuing the District’s primary missions of navigation, emergency management, flood risk management, environmental stewardship, regulatory activities, recreation, and other vital programs.
“The navigation infrastructure on the Upper Mississippi River System and Illinois Waterway enables a critical mode of commerce for the nation,” said Col. Aaron Williams, Rock Island District commander. “With 18 locks and dams in our District, our team plays a vital role in driving economic benefits that will support future generations. We are dedicated to ensuring efficiency in maintaining and operating the navigation system all while remaining committed to our promises to protect and restore habitat in the nationally treasured ecosystem of the Upper Mississippi River basin, Illinois Waterway, and their tributaries.”
The Rock Island District continues to lead the Inland Navigation Program for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through the Inland Navigation Design Center. This Center of Expertise leverages innovative technologies and vast expertise across the entirety of USACE to build standardized inland navigation infrastructure with robust plans to maintain its viability for decades to come. The Center encompasses the entire Nation’s inland waterways and remains vital to maximizing the ability to deliver national infrastructure with smarter contracting and higher design standards.
The Rock Island District is the lead USACE District for the Navigation Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP). This multi-billion-dollar civil works program includes plans to construct five new 1,200-foot locks on the Upper Mississippi River system over the next 20 years, while advancing ecosystem projects along the river. Other projects within NESP include mooring cell construction, backwater and side channel rehabilitation, and island restoration.
For nearly 40 years, the Rock Island District has proudly led the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) program, a cornerstone of the Army’s Civil Works mission in ecosystem restoration. To date, the program has successfully completed more than 60 projects, with an additional 20 currently in feasibility, planning and design phases. These efforts continue to deliver significant environmental benefits, enhancing the health and resilience of the Upper Mississippi River ecosystem.
As the District looks to the future, prioritization remains constant. The District continues their partnership with the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to complete the Cedar Rapids Flood Risk Management project which provides key infrastructure to allow critical flood protection for the people of Cedar Rapids. Strong partnerships between the USACE and our non-federal sponsors are key to success on these projects.
All told, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District administers federal water resource programs in a 78,000 square-mile area encompassing the eastern two-thirds of Iowa, the northern half of Illinois, portions of southern Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the northeast corner of Missouri. This area includes 314 miles of the Mississippi River, 268 miles of the Illinois Waterway and their tributaries, and 197,000 acres of federal land.
The Rock Island District remains committed to its customers, projects, and programs while fully supporting the “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiative to enable efficiencies in our program.
ASA(CW) Memorandums